Healing and the Atonement

“Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.”        (Isaiah 53:5)

Griefs and sorrows come in different ways. The Word of God says, “... surely He hath, ...”  Surely meaning, assurance or confidence; in a sure, unhesitating manner; without a doubt; assuredly; unquestionably; certainly; tied together; guaranteed.  Have no doubt, the Atonement is a finished work.

I have experienced deep grief at the death of loved ones, particularly my only son, Rickey. That kind of suffering is a grief we can’t bear without divine help.  Early on, I learned that, in the Atonement, Jesus paid the price for our griefs, carrying our griefs, and our sorrows.

I have also experienced much sorrow in my life. Sometimes it was an emotional sorrow, and other times physical impoverishment.  My father was an alcoholic, and as a result, he was not in our lives much of the time, nor did we have material things like the other children. These were physical sorrows. But even as a child, Jesus saw my need and helped me through those times in my childhood. 

In addition to Jesus carrying our griefs and sorrows, His death was an atonement for the souls of mankind, a spiritual healing. The blood atonement through Christ’s death was for our emotional, physical and spiritual infirmities.

One of my favorite passages declares, “But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor; that He by the grace of God should taste death for every man.” (Hebrews 2:9)
It restates John 3:16, “For God so loved .…”

Healing is just as much a part of the atonement as Salvation. The two equate to a total healing. Many times after Jesus has touched a person through a healing, it will cause him to believe in God. I truly believe you cannot be touched by God physically or emotionally without being touched spiritually. Sooner or later they will recognize a divine work in their life.

Many times in the middle of a miracle service, while people are being healed, the unbelievers will walk down the aisle, crying to the Lord asking for forgiveness, and repenting of their sins. They are wanting to be born again, even without my having given an altar call. It was the Holy Spirit moving on their hearts. Spiritual healing is the greatest of all healing—God’s greatest miracle.

When the Holy Spirit performs miracles, he causes people to die to self?belief and to believe Jesus is real, and that He is to be served as the Lord of their lives.

“Surely, he hath borne, ... surely he carried, ... surely he was wounded, ..., and surely by his stripes we were healed.”

Some say healing and miracles were done away with; and that the Atonement through Jesus’ death and resurrection, is not valid today. What Jesus paid for on the Cross is for us, as long as we are on earth, extending into forever and ever. Isaiah the prophet proclaimed: “For born unto us, a Son is given: and the government shall be upon His shoulder: and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, THE PRINCE OF PEACE.” (Isaiah 9:6)

Miracles are given to glorify God, and to draw men and women to Jesus Christ. In the Atonement a finished work was surely done. Jesus declared it Himself, on the Cross, “It is finished.”